Gastro Intestinal dry trial.

[Anyname]

Had an appointment with the vet. He told us we are making too much work of caring for kitty. We admitted to feeling exhausted looking after LB. So we've agreed to try the new regime for min of 4 weeks. Diet is some raw chicken (and kangaroo if not itching) and the rest is Royal Canin Gasto Intestinal dry. (2/3 cup a day) Vet holds much store by this product and is keen to see if it helps LB's demeanour. Diabetes is 3rd priority behind "off" cycles - not eating and or vomiting, followed by allergies and then diabetes. Personally I think weight is a factor but Vet not concerned. I wonder whether Little Boy evades attention coz he's so, so big that the fat tummy isn't very obvious. He's a tad over 9kilo's (over 20lbs). In the back of my mind I feel it's the platform for his high numbers. Read this earlier: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/diabetes.html

Little Boy in heaven eating the dry. So happy last night - like he died and went to heaven. He wants to eat them all the time but I'm doing tough love on him. If this doesn't work he's going to get worse and in that case he will have to be put to sleep as we can't keep going with him as he is. In himself he seems better, happier already.

Vet said to up the lantus to keep numbers under control and see what the dry does for his inner health. He claims he's had success with a number of kitties with this program. Will see.

Forgot to add he's having weekly B12 shots for 6 weeks.

Marilyn
pancreas test PL... something was 2.7. Vet said it didn't discount mild pancreatitis.

 

[Laura and Harley (GA)]

Hi Marilyn and Little Boy, I so understand the difficulties of balancing GI illness with diabetes. My Harley has IBD, pancreatitis and diabetes and sometimes it's hard to know which disease I'm treating as they are all linked and so often they feed on each other, pardon the pun.

I'm just wondering - is the product your vet is having you feed Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal HE? If so, did they mention to you that this food comes in both dry and tinned versions? I've tried both for my Harley and yes, like any cat he likes the dry a little bit and the wet not at all but if you can obtain the wet and if Little Boy takes to it, at least that way he'd get more water intake. Just a thought.

Hugs to you both :YMHUG: :YMHUG: cat_pet_icon cat_pet_icon

 

[Anyname]

Hi Laura, Vet didn't mention the wet variety. Yes Royal Canin Gasto Intestinal - but no HE on the end. Our vet told me something about the dry being difficult to get - something to do with the egg in it. We had a power cut for 3 hours from 4pm onwards - had nothing to do but sit with candles and a glass or two of wine. Then vet rings. EEK! ohmygod_smile I only got the basics of the conversation then had to book an appointment so I could go over it again with a clear head. An expensive power cut!

Water consumption is an issue for sure - I am not sure I can get the wet in OZ. Will look it up.

Did Harley improve on the wet or dry RC GI food? Is Harley over weight at all? Thank you for letting me know about the wet form. LB has allergies to food - not itching a lot so far. Vet said this stuff was half digested already - by fermentation ? LB seems quite happy since he started on it - but maybe it's like any addict - he's so happy to be scoffing dry again. But actually I never used to feed a lot of dry - was always slightly suspicious of it; thought it caused kidney disease - I think I just fed too much food full stop. I should have been tougher I'm not the best person to have pets as I'm not strict enough with them. :roll:

My vet was saying that the diabetes is a manifestation of another problem like IBD - but in LBs case he can suffer internal inflammation from allergies. Vet thinks we have to get the diet right to help the other issues. He's pushing the dry - and I think his motives are pure. He wants to be a good vet - I can tell that.

thanks again,
Marilyn

 

[Laura and Harley (GA)]

Hi Laura, Vet didn't mention the wet variety. Yes Royal Canin Gasto Intestinal - but no HE on the end. Our vet told me something about the dry being difficult to get - something to do with the egg in it. We had a power cut for 3 hours from 4pm onwards - had nothing to do but sit with candles and a glass or two of wine. Then vet rings. EEK! ohmygod_smile I only got the basics of the conversation then had to book an appointment so I could go over it again with a clear head. An expensive power cut!

Water consumption is an issue for sure - I am not sure I can get the wet in OZ. Will look it up.

Hi Marilyn & Little Boy, I'm sorry, I spaced out that you were in Australia and that products may differ by country. I checked Royal Canin's Australia site and unfortunately the Gastro Intestinal GI 32 only comes in dry not in wet. cat(2)_steam And that's crazy because it looks like the same formula as is used here in the States but sold as Gastro Intestinal HE and comes in both dry and wet. I'm not a nutritionist but the bag and ingredient list looks very similar to mine. I wonder if your vet could write you a script so you could order some wet online? Hills i/d is also used for GI issues and comes in both dry and wet formulas. The wet food is supposed to be very pallitable as it too is partially digested.

Did Harley improve on the wet or dry RC GI food? Is Harley over weight at all?

Harley didn't like the RC GI wet food, ate a little of the RC GI dry and then stopped, ate the Hills i/d wet food for a little while and then stopped and now eats Hills dry i/d as emergency food when he stops eating and I need to get him going again. Harley is a huge challenge with food because all his life he has eaten one food and liked it for a few weeks and then abruptly refused to eat it again so I had to switch foods rapidly and feed a new food. So food trials with him quickly became a waste of time & money because the while point of getting kitty to eat only one food for weeks if not months was out the window. He doesn't need to lose weight, rather I have a hard time keeping weight on him because he needs a lower fat diet to help keep his pancreatitis at bay.

LB seems quite happy since he started on it - but maybe it's like any addict - he's so happy to be scoffing dry again. But actually I never used to feed a lot of dry - was always slightly suspicious of it; thought it caused kidney disease - I think I just fed too much food full stop. I should have been tougher I'm not the best person to have pets as I'm not strict enough with them. :roll:

But of course he's happy - he's eating dry!! If he's able to eat his food and enjoy it, it controls his symptoms and is affordable for you - that is Heaven in the life of an IBD cat mama bean. If you have not found this resource already, I recommend joining the Yahoo Feline IBD Group. It's an e-mail list group of IBD cat beans who are going through the same things we are and they are very supportive. Some also have combo IBD/pancreatitis/diabetic kitties.

My vet was saying that the diabetes is a manifestation of another problem like IBD - but in LBs case he can suffer internal inflammation from allergies. Vet thinks we have to get the diet right to help the other issues. He's pushing the dry - and I think his motives are pure. He wants to be a good vet - I can tell that.

My vets (Harley is so important he needs 3 of them!) and I agree with you and your vet. Sadly the diabetes is often the first disease to be formally diagnosed and then because we pay so much close attention to their every move, the other diseases get diagnosed afterwards. From what I've read of your posts, it sounds like your vet is really trying hard and is most likely recommending the food that they have the most experience with.

I'm not sure if this an option, but if LB has suspected food allergies often times a raw food diet may be beneficial. Like any food trial, it's not guaranteed to work for every kitty and may or may not be indicated in LB's case. I tried it with Harley but it made him sicker plus he's on prednisolone so he's imunocompromised. I'm just throwing this out there as it does help some kitties. It might be worth talking to your vet about if the dry food doesn't work out.

Purrs and scritches to LB - he's so lucky to have such a devoted and caring mama bean!

 

[Anyname]

::::: I recommend joining the Yahoo Feline IBD Group. It's an e-mail list group of IBD cat beans who are going through the same things we are and they are very supportive. Some also have combo IBD/pancreatitis/diabetic kitties.

Thanks will take a look.

::::My vets (Harley is so important he needs 3 of them!) and I agree with you and your vet. Sadly the diabetes is often the first disease to be formally diagnosed and then because we pay so much close attention to their every move, the other diseases get diagnosed afterwards. From what I've read of your posts, it sounds like your vet is really trying hard and is most likely recommending the food that they have the most experience with.

The cynic in me thinks he's recommending the food he's got a big supply of. I've got to stop being so bitter and twisted!!! :twisted:

:::: I tried it with Harley but it made him sicker plus he's on prednisolone so he's imunocompromised. I'm just throwing this out there as it does help some kitties. It might be worth talking to your vet about if the dry food doesn't work out.

New vet has flagged the prospects of cortizone for LB in the future. LB was really miserable on prednisolone when he was on it for the granuloma on his tongue - I myself cannot take it. My stomach hurt a lot on it. I stopped it without tapering. New vet was saying he often sees similarities in cats illnesses and cat owners illnesses. He was saying it to be amusing but I suspect he is a little intrigued by the frequency of this. I hadn't even told him I was coeliac at that point!!

thank you for sharing so much information with me. It's really helpful when the spirits flag from the worry of it all. It's nice to know that we are not alone in our efforts to help our kitties feel better,

hugs
Marilyn
ps: I wrote a much longer message but when I posted the first half was missing. I must have deleted it somehow. Dang! These buttons are very unforgiving at times. ohmygod_smile